Trans Associates Receives PAUCP Certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

Today was a banner day, capping off 15 months of pursuit of a DBE certification. We are super excited here at the firm, but more importantly, we want to share why this is important for our clients and teaming partners.

Trans Associates has been in business since 1989 offering transportation engineering services. That’s a good long time. Long enough to see the industry change from designing roadways for maximum throughput of the automobile, to now thoughtfully considering the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and other citizens previously excluded from the priorities of regional transportation initiatives.

Throughout this time, Trans Associates has continued to adapt and grow, assisting clients  with transportation studies and design plans that are of the highest technical quality. Our staff, many of whom have been here for more than 20 years, is experienced and eager to apply their experience to new transportation challenges. For our clients and teaming partners, this means they have the benefit of working with the “A” team. Our team is responsive and nimble, with  experience they can apply to a variety of transportation issues. Contact us today to learn more!

Key staff include:

Cynthia A. (Cindy)  Jampole, PE, Principal/CEO – Cindy is responsible for the overall management of the firm. She is active in a hands-on approach with projects, performing engineering tasks and overseeing project delivery. She is widely recognized for her expertise in performing Transportation Impact Studies (TIS) and parking studies required by the City of Pittsburgh for development/redevelopment project approval.

Robert E. (Bob) Goetz, PE, Principal been with the firm since the doors opened. Bob continues to manage a broad portfolio of transportation projects ranging from municipal reviews and transportation studies to design plans for trails and roadway projects. He  has  PennDOT open end experience and performed various studies for the PA Turnpike including the Point of Access Stud for the recently completed Southern Beltway project.

Terence V. (Terry) Olesniewicz, PE, Principal/Design Services has 23 years of experience with the firm and is responsible for oversight of the design engineering staff and project management. Terry is highly experienced with PennDOT’s HOP process and project development process which is important for  private and public clients and teaming partners as well.

Nicholas J. (Nick) Schaefer, PE, PTOE, Principal/Transportation Services has 20 years of experience serving public and private clients in Central PA. Nick specializes in traffic engineering and transportation planning.

Clifford D. (Cliff) Eich, PE, Principal/Traffic Design has twelve years of experience in transportation engineering, specializing in traffic design. His project experience includes traffic signal and signal system design, streetscape/complete street design, traffic control plans, signing and pavement marking plans for local, state and private clients.

Trans Associates Certified as WBE Firm


Trans Associates is thrilled to announce that the firm has been certified a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) firm through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the US. This is a terrific accomplishment for CEO, Cindy Jampole, P.E., who worked her way up to this position over the course of her career here at TA.

We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government agencies today, and we can add diversity to your supply chain. Trans Associates is eager to apply its many years of transportation engineering experience in serving our clients’ diversity goals.

Happy Holidays 2021!!

TA staff gathered for the annual holiday luncheon today and fun was had by all. We enjoyed a great lunch, celebrated staff service awards and had a mystery gift exchange.

In the spirit of the season, donations have been made to local food banks in Pittsburgh, Columbus and State College on behalf our our clients. We are grateful to our clients and industry friends for their loyalty and friendship.

Best wishes for a prosperous and healthy New Year!

Trans Associates recognized as a Woman Owned Business in Pittsburgh!

We are excited to announce that Trans Associates has been recognized by the City of Pittsburgh as a Woman-Owned Business entity! Trans Associates offers institutional clients and teaming partners expertise in transportation planning, traffic signal design, roadway design, HOP and transportation studies. Please contact us for more information!

Southern Beltway Celebration

On October 9, 2021, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission held a community day on the newly finished Southern Beltway, the first new highway built in the Pittsburgh region in 25 years. The celebration provided an opportunity for pedestrians, bicyclists and roller bladers to experience a five mile section of the new roadway before the road opens to vehicles on October 15. Ann Kline from Trans Associates took advantage of the opportunity to have an outing of fun adventure with her family.

Trans Associates provided transportation engineering services as a subconsultant for the Southern Beltway project. Services were provided for the environmental impact study and the preliminary and final Point of Access Studies for the interchange at  I-79. The traffic engineering services included point access studies included traffic projection calibration and analysis, freeway segment analysis, signalized and unsignalized intersection analysis. FREEVAL was used to analyze freeway segments and weave segments. HCS7 was used with Synchro for intersection analysis including queueing analysis to evaluate alternatives to improve mobility and safety. Design services included traffic signal design for the ramp junction at Morganza Road.

Trans Associates is now WBE certified with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh

Trans Associates became certified this month as a WBE firm with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA). The URA requires that all contractors, vendors, redevelopers, and borrowers demonstrate a good faith effort to obtain the participation of MBEs and WBEs in work to be performed in connection with the URA for projects of $250,000 and greater.

Trans Associates is experienced with the City of Pittsburgh’s permitting process and can assist redevelopers with the requisite traffic, parking and loading studies as required by the City.

Construction services include traffic and pedestrian control plans, traffic signal design, driveway, ADA curb cuts and parking design.

Trans Associates Wins Project of the Year

truck parking design
Lawn Service Plaza Auxiliary Truck Parking Project

Trans Associates was selected as the recipient of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) Harrisburg Section Project of the Year Award in June 2020. The winning project was the Lawn Service Plaza Auxiliary Truck Parking Project for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC).  The project addressed a shortfall in the availability of safe tractor trailer parking adjacent to the PTC.

The design provided room for WB-67 vehicles with 53′ trailers room to circulate, maneuver and park. LED lighting, fencing and signage were all set back and heavy duty bollards protected interior lighting poles. The project used 30,533 square yards of concrete for truck parking at a 12″ depth. The final design added 77 new truck parking spaces on a surface nearly 5 football fields in size!

The level site was not without its challenges. A bog turtle habitat was discovered during the environmental permitting process. Although only 3-1/2″ in size, the Bog Turtle had a much bigger impact on the project.  A 4′ high chain link fence with mesh covering and warning signs were erected to protect the habitat prior to construction and not removed until demobilization.

Stormwater management and local environmental permitting were also challenges considering the size of the parking lot and the potential for spills and leaks from trucks. An existing front pond was retrofitted and a new back pond was constructed. Both were used during construction as temporary E&S controls then converted to their final BMP configurations to preserve the exceptional value wetlands and other requirements related to water quality and quantity. Stormceptor units were also used in the design and buried onsite to pretreat runoff prior to flowing into the basins.

A Message to Clients and Friends of Trans Associates

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing life as we know it and we want to provide some information regarding how we anticipate conducting business for the foreseeable future.

At this time, the health and safety of our employees is our top priority. We are following the guidance and mandates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to minimize the spread of the virus.

Trans Associates has provided employees with the necessary tools to work remotely to meet your needs. We are well prepared to provide the high level of responsiveness and service you’ve come to expect from us, but we ask for your patience.

Thank you for your support,
Robert E. Goetz, P.E.
Principal & CEO

Future firm leaders selected

Trans Associates Engineering Consultants, Inc. has designated Terence V. (Terry) Olesniewicz, PE, Nicholas J. (Nick) Schaefer, PE, PTOE and Clifford D. (Cliff) Eich, PE as direct shareholders of the firm. They represent the future leadership of the firm and were selected based upon their experience and loyalty to the firm.

Terry is a Senior Manager of Design Services for Trans Associates and has been with the firm for more than 20 years.  He oversees the design staff and is responsible for resource allocation, project management, cost estimates and construction consultation. He is licensed in PA and FL.

Nick manages the State College office for Trans and is responsible for all traffic engineering services performed in Central PA for the firm.  He has over 17 years of experience in transportation planning and traffic engineering including work for municipalities, PennDOT, and private development clients. He is licensed in PA, NY and NJ. 

Cliff manages the traffic design services group at the firm.  He has 12 years of experience in transportation engineering, specializing in traffic design.  His experience includes traffic signal and signal system design, complete street design, traffic control plans, signing and pavement marking plans.

Signalized Intersection Safety

Trans Associates has been successfully assisting clients with the ARLE application process since 2014. The Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program (ARLE) was established with the intent to improve safety by reducing vehicle crashes and injuries due to red-light-running at signalized intersections.  ARLE is a reimbursement grant program and there is no local match requirement.  

The 2019 application period is open until July 1, 2019. Eligible projects include traffic control signal improvements, roadway capacity, mobility and safety upgrades, bicycle and pedestrian improvements and Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) projects.

Trans Associates secured more than $1M in ARLE grant funding for clients in 2018 – nearly 15% of the total monies available to cities, townships and municipalities outside of the City of Philadelphia award.

Trans Associates would like to assist your community in improving safety at signalized intersections. Not sure where the best project fit is in your community?  Contact Trans Associates! We assist municipal clients with project identification, application preparation, design services and project management.  

Contacts:
Central PA – Nick Schaefer, P.E., PTOE (814) 231-4812 X101
   SchaeferN@transassociates.com

Western PA – Cliff Eich, P.E., (412) 490-0630 X242
EichC@transassociates.com